This week in West Orange County history: July 13, 2023

OLD TIMES

90 years ago

Members of the Winter Garden Chamber of Commerce were working on obtaining deeds from property owners over whose lands the new route of the state Highway 22 would run. The new road was needed to eliminate the two dangerous right-angle curves at Tildenville, and the highway would be turned to lead directly into town instead of around it.

Harold E. Hall, president of the Hall Fertilizer Company, was inducted as new president of the Winter Garden Rotary Club.

George S. Merchant was staging his annual mid-season clearance sale, and some of the featured items were as follows: Toyo Panama hats, 79 cents; wash trousers, $1.89; men’s dress pants, $1.85 to $3.95; shoes, $1.95; boys wash pants, 49 cents to 79 cents; Interwover Sox, five pairs for $1; and Mallory straws, $1.95.

85 years ago

Thirty workmen, taken from Winter Garden relief rolls, began clearing 10 acres of land at the city’s waterfront park as the first part of this city’s $18,000 federal aid city beautification project.

West Orange County friends learned Mrs. Charles Frederic (Grace) Mather-Smith suffered a scorpion sting in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was hospitalized under the care of several physicians.

The Chevrolet automovie, a complete sound motion picture theater on wheels, planned to bring its interesting and unusual program to Winter Garden.

W.G. Meal, agricultural adjustment administration official, told more than 600 members of the newly formed Citrus Growers Associations of Central Florida “the less desirable grades and size offer opportunities for greater profits to citrus growers who should develop a demand for them among the lower income groups.”

72 years ago

The Ocoee Boy Scouts were organized, and the troop’s sponsor was the Woman’s Club of Ocoee.

60 years ago

The Winter Garden 8th Annual Invitation Swimming Meet was scheduled at the Municipal Pool, according to Vel Heckman, summer recreation director.

50 years ago

Former Winter Garden Police Capt. Billy German was appointed chief of police in the town of Oakland. He was with the Winter Garden force for five years.

Beulah Baptist Church’s Martin Luther King Memorial Choir marked its 10th anniversary with a weekend of events, including a music recital for young people, the planting of 10 maple trees around Winter Garden, a special banquet in the Burgundy Room at the Winter Garden II, a consecration service and a Sunday afternoon music service with many guest choirs. The choir president was Eva Holt, and Dr. Robert Williams was the musician.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

JULY 17, 1969

The A&P grocery store offered so many deals it had to take out a full-page advertisement in The Winter Garden Times to announce all the sales prices.

In the meat department, customers could get shoulder chops for 69 cents a pound, skinless franks for 59 cents for a one-pound package, a whole or half ham weighing 16 to 18 pounds for 59 cents a pound and a two-and-one-half-pound package of ground beef for $1.49.

Fans of Kraft products were in luck with Philadelphia cream cheese for 29 cents, two one-pound packages of regular Parkay Margarine for 49 cents, American or pimento cheese slices for 59 cents and Jet Puffed Marshmallows for 19 cents.

Ann Page soups could be purchased at eight cans for $1, three cans of Hawaiian Punch were $1, a 7-ounce bottle of Vitalis hair tonic was 99 cents, a box of Mr. Bubble bath powder was 39 cents, and a 3-pound box of Tide was 59 cents.

The store was at 731 S. Dillard St. in Winter Garden.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

French teacher Elizabeth T. Mack is seen in her classroom at Drew High School. Constructed for black students in the era of segregation, Drew opened in the late 1950s and closed when integration was implemented in Florida’s public high schools at the beginning of the 1969-1970 season.

Any further information about Ms. Mack’s professional teaching career can be shared with the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation at (407) 656-3244.